Tufts Wins 400 Freestyle Relay to Secure 1st Ever Women’s NESCAC Title

2022 Women’s NESCAC Championships

• February 10-13, 2022
• Colby College, Waterville, ME
• Defending Champs: Williams
• Complete Results

Williams had a 7.5 point lead over Tufts headed into the final day. The race for the team title came down to the final race, the 400 freestyle relay, and the Tufts women secured their conference title by winning the relay in commanding fashion.

1650 Freestyle

1. Lillie Bushway, Williams (16:57.13)
2. Megan Lee, Amherst (17:02.26)
3. Katie Shelburne, Tufts (17:07.68)

Bushway was dominant for most of the race, taking the lead from Shelburne at the 350 mark. Bushway set a pool record in her win with a time of 16:57.13.

200 Backstroke

1. Sophie Cassily, Bates (1:57.98)
2. Abby Claus, Tufts (2:00.44)
3. Sophia Verkleeren, Williams (2:00.45)

Cassily swam a pool record winning in a time of 1:57.98. Verkleeren was first through the 150 mark but had the second slowest last 50 of the field and was out touched by Claus.

100 Freestyle

1. Jillian Cudney, Tufts (50.52)
2. Ella Riccio, Bowdoin (50.61)
3. Claire Brennan, Tufts (50.63)

Cudney improved upon her prelims time by 0.22 to win the event in a pool record. Riccio charged to the finish to out touch Brennan. 

200 Breaststroke

1. Amanda Wager, Williams (2:12.98)
2. Charlotte Wishnack, Williams (2:16.52)
3. Molly Craig, Williams (2:17.22)

Williams dominated this race with a much needed 1-2-3 finish. Tufts did not place anyone in the A final. Wager won in a 2:12.98 which was a Pool, Meet, and NESCAC record. She also was just off of the NCAA Division III ‘A’ cut which is a 2:12.91.

200 Butterfly

1. Marie Fagan, Amherst (2:00.58)
2. Samantha Kilcoyne, Williams (2:01.16)
3. Andrea Higgins, Connecticut (2:02.01)

Williams went 2-4 in the event, but Tufts had four A finalists going 5-6-7-8 to help them close the points gap. Fagan set a new pool record in her win for Amherst. 

3 meter Diving

1. Sadie Smith, Bowdoin (466.15)
2. Hannah Karlin, Amherst (454.20)
3. Alaina Kosko, Tufts (452.15)

Tufts takes back the lead from Williams after 47 points compared to Tufts who only scored 23. 

400 Freestyle Relay

1. Tufts (3:22.46)
2. Williams (3:25.31)
3. Connecticut (3:26.93)

Tufts was dominant in the final event of the meet, going a NESCAC, meet, and pool record. All four swimmers on Tufts swam sub-51 splits. Claire Brennan of Tufts swam the fastest leg of the field going a 50.28 on the third leg. 

Team Standings:

1. Tufts University                 1809   
2. Williams College               1758.5
3. Amherst College                  1136   
4. Bates College                    1020
5. Bowdoin College                 877.5   
6. Middlebury College                811
7. Connecticut College               753   
8. Colby College                   566.5
9. Wesleyan University             534.5  
10. Trinity College                   497
11. Hamilton College                  467